Investment in Wisbech factory

Owners of a Wisbech factory have announced plans to add a new cooker to the site.

Liverpool headquartered Food and drink group Princes is set to invest in its Wisbech food production site, with the introduction of a high speed cooker for baked beans.

The new cooker will increase production capacity and operating speed, while also reducing energy use during the manufacturing process.

This follows the opening of a new energy centre in 2014 which resulted in a reduction in CO2 emissions of 10,000 tonnes per annum. Over half of the site’s electrical demand is now generated on site through the use of exhaust gases to create steam..

A roof will be lifted off at the Wisbech site in January 2017 to begin the installation as the new the cooker is lifted into position by crane. The cooker is targeted to be fully operational by May 2017.

The Wisbech facility produces canned and pouched products including baked beans, soups, pulses, pasta, vegetables and sauces. It is a major purchaser of British produce for a range of branded products and supermarket own-brands.

Corporate relations director Ruth Simpson said: “With this investment, Princes is demonstrating its commitment to Wisbech and our vision of the site as a central part of our UK food manufacturing business. We are constantly seeking new energy efficiencies throughout all our sites, and the opportunity to reduce our energy consumption with this new cooker was a key consideration in the investment.”